I started following the Elio in '08 and feel it's taking way too long. Over 7 years I have lost a measure of enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Paul and EM's Management/Marketing/Legislative Team are drawing $200K salaries for their hard work. It's a job and a good one at that.
My personal under promised production date is 2017. I hope EM over delivers in 2016.
However, I am counting on the promised P5 reveal at the LA Auto Show. If not, Elio will be dead to me.
It's always been the money Rickb. It could've been done much sooner as there is no new tech w/ our ELIO except it's 3 wheeled and the tech. has been proven by the likes of Morgan trikes, etc. Offering a/c, airbag, safety features, radio, etc. w/ their target $6,800 price tag smelled really good for us future consumers but not attractive to investors out there because there isn't much money to be made- creating the vehicle itself, the network of dealer/installer, etc. are dizzying enough to make me even think that it's possible to see ELIO parked in my driveway by 2017. Money, money and more money are what EM needs or we're all lucky just to see the P5 and not much else- starting the E series, well, another round of funding could be in order to get it started and who knows where or when it will come. putting a blind eye and think everything is honky dory is the consensus as always, "it'll be ready when they're ready" as our diehards will say. The ELIO is the car of the FUTURE from what we read, and literally it is, it is however not the car for TODAY as it is yet to hit the streets to prove it's merits- how soon in the future??? As the saying goes, NO MONEY, NO HONEY! As for me, I won't fold if EM don't, after all, they've already spent my 1K!